A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1625-1695
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Unhandsom(e, adj. Also: unhansome, -hontsum. [e.m.E. unhansome (1530), vnhandsome (1567); Handsum adj.]
1. Difficult to handle, unmanageable. 1625 Garden Kings 61.
Be a fall, he [sc. Alexander III] perishes perforce, Born doune a hewche with an vnhandsom horse
2. Unfitting, unseemly; indecent, scandalous.(a) 1653 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries XXIII 307.
Which will be vnhandsome if a minister should haue hes dwelling house within my lord's court 1661 Wemyss Corr. 107.
I cannott beleive that hee would doe soe vnhandsome a thinge as to desire to have the wardshippe alone without your lordshippe 1670 Dunblane Synod 79.
Being charged by the bishope with insobriety … and some unhandsome cariage to a woman 1681 Cramond Kirk S. II 10 April.
Severall wittnesses … deponed, that they saw them in unhandsome posture together(b) 1669 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. III 27.
Their sinistrous and unhansome practizes of purpose to extort and elicite papers 1676 Edinb. B. Rec. X 283.
[In order] that such unhansome courses may be prevented in tyme comeing the councill … declares [etc.](c) 1695 Minnigaff Par. Rec. 2.
Many unhontsom and untymous drinkings are frequented by many persons upon the Sabbath night
b. Inelegant, unstylish. 1687 Douglas Corr. 279.
Let me hear … what ye think will be done for coach-horses against my sons coming doune, for yow know it is both exspensive and verie unhandsom to goe in a hackney coach
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"Unhandsom adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/unhandsome>
